Providing Safe Anesthetic Care and Sedation for GI Endoscopy

This article provides a comprehensive summary of the latest developments in anesthetic care for gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy. It assesses how traditional anesthesia delivery methods fare against emerging trends, particularly in regard to patient safety and overall treatment outcomes.

Moderate sedation is sufficient and safe for most gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopies in low-risk patients. Currently, propofol is the sedative of choice owing to its versatility, favorable pharmacological profile, and safety across various patient demographics. There is increasing data supporting that non-anesthesiologists can safely administer propofol to low-risk patients undergoing routine GI endoscopies; however, this is limited by system and legal considerations worldwide. Additionally, remimazolam is a novel ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine that has been shown to be safer and more effective than traditional benzodiazepines and propofol. There are a number of novel airway devices that allow optimal oxygen delivery in patients undergoing endoscopy.

Anesthetic practices in endoscopies are moving towards safer and more cost-effective alternatives. Establishing standardized practices, offering regular training for non-anesthesiologists, and adopting novel pharmacological agents and inventions will enhance patient and procedural outcomes.